Bhubaneswar, May 13: The Odisha government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Mahila SuVahak (Ama SuVahak)’ scheme is steadily emerging as a transformative initiative aimed at making women financially independent and strengthening their presence in the transport sector. The programme is focused on helping trained women drivers become vehicle owners and build sustainable livelihoods in mobility services.
In a recent event held at Kharavel Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, beneficiary Bhanupriya Behera was handed over the keys to her new vehicle under the scheme. With this, the number of women drivers who have become car owners through the initiative has risen to seven, marking gradual progress in the state’s effort to expand women-led transport participation.
Bhanupriya, who completed professional driving training at the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Chhatia in 2019, represents the scheme’s core objective—turning trained women drivers into entrepreneurs in the mobility space.
The scheme provides interest-free loans of up to ₹10 lakh in partnership with banks, significantly reducing financial barriers for aspiring women drivers. In addition, the state government contributes 10% of the vehicle’s ex-showroom price as down payment support, while also acting as guarantor and covering credit guarantee charges and interest costs.
Officials said the initiative is backed by a budgetary allocation of ₹46.66 crore and aims to create around 1,100 “Ama SuVahak” women drivers over the next four years, making it one of the state’s key women-centric livelihood programmes.
Priority is being given to women associated with OSRTC and CRUT, members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and beneficiaries of the Subhadra scheme, ensuring broader inclusion across rural and urban backgrounds.
Senior officials from the Commerce & Transport Department, including the Principal Secretary and Transport Commissioner, attended the programme and encouraged beneficiaries to expand their role in the transport ecosystem.
The initiative is being viewed as a step towards not just financial empowerment, but also a shift in social participation—bringing more women into a sector traditionally dominated by men and promoting safer, more inclusive mobility services in Odisha.